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Does car insurance cover theft?
Car insurance might cover theft—but it depends on the type of theft (e.g. theft of the vehicle vs. theft of personal belongings in the vehicle) and the type of claim (e.g. a claim for damage due to theft or attempted theft vs. outright loss of the vehicle or personal belongings). This is actually a broad question, with many potential answers!
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Which car insurance covers theft?
It's important to consider the type of car insurance, because the three tiers cover theft claims differently:
| Type of Car Insurance | Covers theft of vehicle | Covers theft of personal belongings from vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive | Yes | Maybe (could be optional) |
| TPFT (Third Party, Fire and Theft) | Yes | No |
| TPO (Third Party Only) | No | No |
Does comprehensive car insurance cover theft?
Comprehensive car insurance covers theft of a vehicle. That's because "comprehensive" car insurance typically covers the main categories of claims, from third party liability to damage (e.g. from fire or accident) to theft of the vehicle. TPFT (Third Party, Fire and Theft) car insurance would also cover theft of a vehicle.
But the answer varies if the question refers to theft of items from inside the car. In that case, it depends on the policy.
Does TPFT car insurance cover theft?
TPFT does cover theft of the vehicle and damage due to attempted theft of the vehicle.
TPFT should cover theft of permanently-fitted equipment in the vehicle, such as audio or electronic equipment.
But TPFT would not usually cover theft of personal belongings from within the vehicle.
Check your policy details to confirm as cover may vary.
Does third party car insurance cover theft?
No, third party car insurance (TPO) does not cover theft of a vehicle, nor does it cover theft of personal items from inside a vehicle.
Third party cover simply covers damage or injury to other people (third parties) and their property—for that, a higher tier of cover is required. TPFT (Third Party, Fire and Theft) would include cover for theft of a vehicle, but not usually theft of personal items from a vehicle. Comprehensive car insurance would cover for theft of a vehicle, and could potentially cover theft of personal items from a vehicle (this cover may be included automatically or available for an added premium).
Does car insurance cover contents theft?
TPO and TPFT policies don't cover contents theft.
But most comprehensive car insurance providers either include theft of personal items automatically OR as an optional extra. Theft of contents cover is typically available on comprehensive policies for those who want it.
In some cases, there may be an option to increase the level of personal belongings cover, as well.
Note: in the current environment, more and more policies exist in the marketplace with personal belongings cover as an option that requires an additional premium to be paid.
For example, the following car insurance providers have some optionality to their personal belongings cover:
- 1st Central
- Admiral
- Churchill
- Direct Line
- Hastings
- Marshmallow
- QuoteMeHappy
- Tesco Bank
While the following providers should include personal belongings cover in their comprehensive plans as standard, but be sure to check for yourself:
- Allianz
- Aviva
- AXA
- Budget
- Diamond
- Elephant
- esure
- General Accident
- LV=
- Privilege (Direct Line Group)
- Swiftcover
Does car insurance cover a broken window from theft?
It depends on the policy.
Does theft claim increase car insurance?
A theft claim may very well increase the cost of car insurance, but there are a few factors at play.
A motorist who's had a car stolen is likely to pay a higher premium for car insurance following theft; in addition, the motorist may find fewer insurance providers willing to quote for a policy at all.
The NimbleFins car insurance experts have run some tests to see how a theft claim impacts the cost of a new policy.
The data showed that premiums increased 10% on average after a claim for theft of a car. For this scenario, the vehicle theft occurred within the past two years and the new car being insured is kept at home and under the protection of a manufacturer-fitted alarm. The stolen car was not recovered and resulted in a claim for £25,000. The new car, a VW T-Roc, is valued at £28,000. These figures represent the average of the 5 cheapest quotes found.
Appetite to insure a motorist with a previously-stolen car can vary from one insurer to the next. Some insurers may decline to offer cover, while others may increase their rates to a greater or lesser degree.